Is it all about the destination? For seven weeks, we’ve been counting. Via text reminders, lucite calendars, and dedicated younger brothers, we’ve marked each day leading toward our final destination — the celebration of Matan Torah. Yet after all this anticipation, we arrive at a Yom Tov named... Shavuos? The word Shavous means "weeks" — seeming to say that we're still in the middle of our journey rather than at its final, joyous destination There’s an iconic Heinz ketchup commercial from decades ago. The concept is simple, yet so strategic. The advertisement zooms in on ketchup slowly pouring from a bottle, accompanied by a single-word jingle: "Anticipation." What Heinz masterfully sold wasn't just the product itself, but the waiting experience — the excitement that builds until that first bite arrives. We’re all waiting for something. We wait until we get married, until we finish our degree, until we buy our first house. We constantly strive toward goals, anticipate milestones, chase achievements. This desire to move forward in life is natural – and good. Without it, we would feel hollow and purposeless. The issue lies in what our superficial world has conditioned us to believe — that only tangible results matter. That we can’t be fully satisfied or that we’re not good enough, until we reach our destination. Shavuos teaches us a profound lesson. As Yidden, we don’t simply celebrate the fruits of our labor. We honor the effort itself — every drop of sweat, every minute of focus, every hour spent trying. When we learn to celebrate not only the destination, but every minute, hour, and day of the journey forward, we can experience the true richness of life. Wishing you an beautiful and uplifting Yom Tov, Ohel Sarala